Book Review- Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans

Title: Level 2

 Author: Lenore Appelhans

Series:  The Memory Chronicles #1

Published: 15 January 2013 by Usborne

Length: 330 pages

Source: Bought

Summary : Since her untimely death the day before her eighteenth birthday, Felicia Ward has been trapped in Level 2, a stark white afterlife located between our world and the next. Along with her fellow drones, Felicia passes the endless hours reliving memories of her time on Earth and mourning what she’s lost-family, friends, and Neil, the boy she loved.

Then a girl in a neighboring chamber is found dead, and nobody but Felicia recalls that she existed in the first place. When Julian-a dangerously charming guy Felicia knew in life-comes to offer Felicia a way out, Felicia learns the truth: If she joins the rebellion to overthrow the Morati, the angel guardians of Level 2, she can be with Neil again.

Suspended between Heaven and Earth, Felicia finds herself at the center of an age-old struggle between good and evil. As memories from her life come back to haunt her, and as the Morati hunt her down, Felicia will discover it’s not just her own redemption at stake… but the salvation of all mankind

Review: Felica Ward died and did not go to heaven. Instead, she is in a blindingly white afterlife known as Level 2. There, she replays memories over and over again- memories of Neil, a boy who she knew when she was alive and really wants to see more of. Then, someone else in Level 2 dies. Then, she learns about a rebellion, and has to decide what she's going to do about it.

 I liked the idea of being able to rewatch your memories  and the concept's originality  made me really excited to read Level 2.

It was fun when we started seeing the memories, with the whole set up seeming a bit like fantastical  Youtube. I also liked this way of seeing characters' backstory.

The romance, while being set up as a love triangle by the publishers,  isn’t really one, but I liked the way that it was slowly built and we get to see two sides of Felicia.

Felicia,  she doesn't accept answers without questioning them, which I liked about her. I also liked wondering about what happened while she was a live, and finding it out. I didn't really connect or care for any of the other characters. Julian is pretty much the opposite of Neil, one being badboylike and the other one being sweet and kind. 

I like the mix of computer/scifi elements, and the religion and mythology of the angels and the general world that Lenore has built up. The angels aren't the ones you often see in YA, mysterious romantic things, but they’re very good new interpretations. I would have liked to know a little more about them.

The plot, I got a little lost at points, but the ending was good.   The little ending there was. The whole rebels vs Morati thing is finished off very quickly, possibly a bit too much so.

Overall:  Strength 3 tea to a book where I was hoping for more. I’d still like to read Level 3, though.

Links: Amazon |  Goodreads | Author website | 

Top Ten Books I Want of 2013

Yeah...I was going to publish this next Wednesday, but everyone else was doing it today. So...Extended Waiting on... Saturday! Possibly featuring past WoW picks, because I want to feature them again. Links lead to Goodreads!



Title: The Glass Republic
Author: Tom Pollock
Release Date: 1 August
Why I want it: I loved the London that Tom created and just can't wait to go back to it.

Title: Level 2
Author: Lenore Appelhans
Release Date: 15 January
Why I want it: Cool concept and refreshing take on the afterlife.


Title: The Program
Author: Suzanne Young
Release Date: 30 April
Why I want it: It's an interesting concept and the topic interests me.


Title: Inferno
Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Release Date: 19 March
Why I want it: I've stuck with Nick throughout his series and the majority of the Dark Hunter one. And it was an epic cliffhanger for Infamous. The title suggests that hell's breaking loose.

Title: Etiquette and Espionage
Author: Gail Carriger
Release Date: 5 February
Why I want it: If it contains anywhere near the amount of sly witty humour and fun as the last two books in the Parasol Protectorate series, it would be amazing.

Title: Clockwork Princess
Author: Cassandra Clare
Release Date: 19 March
Why I want it: Steampunk fantasy/paranormal  with generally awesome characters.  And pretty cover!

Title: Scarlet
Author: Marissa Meyer
Release Date: 5 February
Why I want it:  I love fairy tales. I love steampunk. The first in the series was awesome. Yay.

Title: Call of the Jersey Devil
Author: Aurelio Voltaire
Release Date: 28 May
Why I want it: I love Voltaire's music. The concept of this (New Jersey is the gateway to hell) is highly amusing, even if you don't live there, and I'm generally guessing this'll be facepalmingly funny.

Title: Valkyrie
Author: Kate O Hearn
Release Date: 2 May
Why I want it: I've been telling myself for a long time I'll read some more Norse myths. This isn't exactly one, but it has elements and mythology fiction, I tend to enjoy anyway.

Title: Undone
Author: Cat Clarke
Release Date: 31 January
Why I want it: I loved Cat's other books-and talk from friends has said it's even better. Not sure if this is possible. Must check it out.




Seriously, there's more than ten books I really want coming out in 2013. I really cannot list them all. They'll feature in upcoming WoWs (as long as I remember to do them!). In the meantime though.... *eyes up huge box of books to read*

Waiting on Wednesday- Level 2

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where we show off books that we want to read but have not been published yet. 

Title:  Level 2
Author: Lenore Appelhans
Release Date: 15 January 2013 by Simon & Schuster


Link to / Summary from Goodreads:Since her untimely death the day before her eighteenth birthday, Felicia Ward has been trapped in Level 2, a stark white afterlife located between our world and the next. Along with her fellow prisoners, Felicia passes the endless hours downloading memories and mourning what she’s lost—family, friends, and the boy she loved, Neil.
Then a girl in a neighboring chamber disappears, and nobody but Felicia seems to recall she existed in the first place. Something is obviously very wrong. When Julian—a dangerously charming guy Felicia knew in life—comes to offer Felicia a way out, she learns the truth: a rebellion is brewing to overthrow the Morati, the guardians of Level 2.
Felicia is reluctant to trust Julian, but then he promises what she wants the most—to be with Neil again—if only she’ll join the rebels. Suspended between Heaven and Earth, Felicia finds herself in the center of an age-old struggle between good and evil. As memories from her life come back to haunt her, and as the Morati hunt her down, Felicia will discover it’s not just her own redemption at stake… but the salvation of all mankind.
Why I want it:It's an interesting take on an afterlife, and everyone who's read it said it's good. The cover, the title and the author's name are all really cool too.

What are YOU waiting on this week?